i 

1 


Japan  and  Korea 


Questions  and  Answers 


Mission  Circles  and  Bands. 


PRICE,  FIVE  CENTS. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

No.  1834  Chbstnpt  Stbkkt. 

Ifi97. 


Japan  and  Korea 


Questions  and  Answers 


FOR 


Mission  Circles  and  Bands. 


OHft.. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 
OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

No.  1334  Chestnut  Stbeet. 

1897. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/japankoreaOOunse 


JAPAN 


1.  Give  a general  description  of  Japan. 

The  Empire  of  Japan  lies  off  the  eastern 

shore  of  Asia.  It  is  composed  of  four  large 
islands  and  many  small  ones,  which  are 
grouped  together  in  tlie  sliaije  of  a new  moon. 

2.  How  do  travelers  go  to  Japan  ? 

Eitherhy  sailingfrom  New  York  to  England, 

from  there  across  Europe,  through  the  Suez 
Canal,  and  around  the  south  of  Asia  ; or  hy 
railroad  to  San  Francisco  or  Vancouver,  and 
thence  across  the  Pacific  Ocean  directly  to 
Yokohama. 

3.  What  is  the  difference  in  time  between 
New  York  and  Japan? 

The  sun  rises  in  Japan  fourteen  hours  before 
it  rises  in  New  York. 

4.  What  was  the  old  Japanese  belief  about 
the  origin  of  their  country  ? 

That  Japan  was  made  by  the  gods  and  was 
for  a long  time  their  residence  ; a common 
name  for  the  country  among  the  people  is  the 
“Land  of  the  Gods.”  They  believed  also  that 
the  emperor  was  descended  from  the  gods. 


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5.  What  is  the  emperor  called? 

By  foreigners  the  emperor  is  usually  called 
the  Mikado,  hut  the  Japanese  generally  speak 
of  him  as  the  Tenshimma,  which  means  the 
Son  of  Heaven.  Two  or  three  hundred  years 
ago  an  officer  bearing  the  title  of  Shogun 
usurped  the  chief  authority,  and  from  that  time 
until  the  year  18G8  the  Shoguns  were  the  real 
rulers  of  the  country,  although  the  Mikado 
was  the  nominal  head. 

6.  llow  was  the  Mikado  restored  to  power? 

For  some  time  before  the  year  1808  many  of 

the  Daimiyos  or  feudal  lords  had  wished  to 
dethrone  the  Shogun  or  Taikun  as  foreigners 
used  to  call  him  (often  misspelt  Tycoon),  and 
to  restore  the  Mikado  to  power.  The  feeling 
against  foreigners  was  very  strong,  and  as  the 
Shogun  had  admitted  them  into  the  country 
his  enemies  had  a good  excuse  for  carrying  out 
their  plans  ; accordingly  an  army  was  raised, 
several  battles  were  fought,  and  the  Mikado 
was  restored  to  his  rights.  He  then  removed 
from  Kij'oto  to  Yedo,  which  had  been  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Shdgun,  and  the  name  of  Yedo 
was  changed  to  Tokyo,  meaning  Eastern  Capi- 
tal. 

7.  Is  the  government  now  opposed  to  for- 
eigners? 

Before  1868  the  party  of  the  Mikado  was 


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strongly  opposed  to  foreigners  ; but  bis  advisers 
were  wise  enough  to  change  their  policy,  be- 
coming progressive  and  favorable  to  foreign 
institutions. 

8.  Wliat  was  the  result? 

Wonderful  progress  was  made  in  introducing 
Western  methods  of  government  and  educa- 
tion. Christianity  shared  in  the  favors  shown 
to  everything  foreign,  and  spread  with  great 
rapidity. 

9.  Do  the  people  sympathize  with  the  gov- 
ernment ? 

About  1888,  a reaction  took  place  among  the 
people,  many  of  whom  disapproved  the  policy 
of  the  government,  and  disliked  all  foreign 
influence.  Since  the  war  with  China,  made 
successful  by  foreign  metiiods,  the  opposition 
seems  to  be  gradually  withdrawn  and  the 
nation  is  no  longer  in  hostile  attitude. 

10.  What  advances  have  been  made  by  the 
government  since  the  war? 

B3"  the  revision  of  the  treaty  with  England, 
Japan  is  recognized  as  a civilized  people,  and 
is  placed  upon  an  equal  footing  with  other 
nations.  The  adoption  of  the  Civil  Code  (189G) 
also  is  an  evidence  of  advancement,  giving 
Japan  jurisdiction  over  all  foreign  residents  in 
the  Empire,  abolishing  the  system  of  foreign 
courts. 


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11.  Is  travel  restricted? 

Tliose  wishing  to  travel  must  first  obtain 
passports  from  the  Japanese  government 
througli  the  foreign  consulates.  These  restric- 
tions are  a hindrance  to  missionaiy  work,  and 
it  is  hoped  the  revision  of  tlie  treaties  will  have 
made  this  unnecessary. 

12.  What  is  the  government? 

Since  February,  1889,  when  the  National 
Constitution  was  adopted,  it  is  a Constitutional 
Monarchy  with  a Diet,  consisting  of  a House  of 
Peers  and  a House  of  Representatives,  which 
met  for  the  first  time  November  29,  1890. 

13.  What  do  the  Japanese  call  their  country? 

Niphon  or  Nippon,  which  means  Source  of 

Light,  and  the  land  is  often  called  the  “Land 
of  the  Morning,”  or  the  “Land  of  the  Rising 
Sun.” 

14.  What  is  the  climate  ? 

It  is  damp  and  somewhat  debilitating  to 
foreigners.  As  Japan  is  surrounded  by  the 
ocean,  the  summer  heat  is  tempered,  while  the 
gulf  stream  washing  the  eastern  shore  miti- 
gates the  severity  of  the  winter. 

15.  What  of  the  scenery  in  .Japan  ? 

The  damp  atmosphere  makes  the  ground 
fertile  and  the  foliage  luxuriant.  It  is  a land  of 


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fruit  and  flowers,  and  the  eye  of  the  traveler  is 
especially  struck  by  the  wonderful  beauty  of 
the  luountaius  and  valleys. 

16.  What  is  the  most  celebrated  mountain  in 
Japan  ? 

Fujisan  or  Fuji  no  Yama.  It  is  an  extinct 
volcano,  a solitary  peak  rising  more  than 
12,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  its  sum- 
mit covered  with  snow  during  most  of  the 
year.  The  Japanese  are  very  proud  of  Mount 
Fuji,  and  constantly  paint  it  upon  fans,  porce- 
lain and  lacquer-ware.  In  the  summer  time, 
when  the  snow  is  gone,  hands  of  pilgrims, 
dressed  in  white,  each  with  a staff  in  his  hand 
and  a little  hell  tinkling  from  his  girdle,  may 
he  seen  journeying  to  the  top  of  the  mountain 
to  worship. 

17.  What  is  the  population  of  Japan? 

In  1896  over  40,000,000  people.  Its  three 
great  cities  are  Tokyo,  Osaka  and  Kyoto. 

18.  Describe  the  people. 

They  are  generally  small,  with  black  hair 
and  eyes,  the  latter  slanting  down  towards  the 
nose.  They  are  kindly,  impressible,  gentle 
and  contented,  hut  lack  many  of  the  higher 
moral  virtues. 

19.  In  what  sort  of  houses  do  they  live? 

Most  of  their  houses  are  only  one  story  high. 


8 


The  better  ones  liave  tile  roofs  ; others  are  cov- 
ered with  little  shingles,  while  in  the  country 
many  of  the  houses  are  thatched.  They  have 
light,  ])aper-covered  doors  that  slide  backward 
and  forward  on  grooved  sills. 

20.  How  are  the  houses  furnished? 

The  floors  are  covered  with  mats  about  two 
inches  thick,  each  mat  six  feet  long  by  three 
feet  wide,  and  all  the  rooms  in  the  houses  are 
made  to  hold  a certain  number  of  mats  ; so  that 
one  often  hears  people  talking  a.'bowX  four -mat, 
or  eight-mat  or  twenty-mat  rooms.  Usually 
there  are  some  pictures  hanging  on  the  wall,  or 
sentences  written  in  Chinese  ; not  framed  like 
ours,  but  on  rollers  like  our  maps.  There  is 
scarcely  any  furniture  ; no  chairs,  for  the  peo- 
ple sit  on  the  mats  with  iheir  feet  doubled  up 
under  them ; no  bedsteads,  for  every  night 
they  spread  comfortables  on  the  mats  to  sleep 
on  ; no  stoves,  but  instead,  little  fire-boxes  of 
metal  or  porcelain  or  wood  lined  with  copper, 
in  which  they  burn  charcoal. 

21.  What  food  do  the  Japanese  eat? 

They  may  almost  be  said  to  live  upon  rice, 
fish  and  tea.  They  have  also  sweet  potatoes 
and  other  vegetables ; of  fruits  they  have 
oranges,  figs,  grapes,  pears,  and  persimmons 
as  large  as  apples.  They  eat  eggs,  and  also 
chickens  and  other  birds ; some  of  them  are 


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beginning  to  eat  beef  and  mutton.  Their  candy 
shops  always  have  for  their  sign  a great  white 
ball  covered  with  points — an  imitation  of  one 
of  their  commonest  kinds  of  candy. 

22.  How  do  they  eat? 

With  chopsticks  as  the  Chinese  do.  These 
are  generally  made  of  wood,  rather  longer  than 
a lead  pencil  and  about  half  as  thick.  Both 
sticks  are  held  in  one  hand  between  diiferent 
fingers,  and  the  Japanese  use  them  very  skill- 
fully. They  have  also  iron  chopsticks  to  han- 
dle the  charcoal  in  their  fire-boxes,  and  the  rag 
pickers  go  about  the  streets  with  a bag  in  one 
hand  and  a pair  of  chopsticks  three  feet  long  in 
the  other. 

23.  How  do  the  .Japanese  dress? 

Men,  women  and  children  all  wear  a sort  of 
gown  cut  straight  and  very  narrow,  and  con- 
fined by  a girdle  around  the  waist ; besides  this 
the  men  sometimes  put  on  a kind  of  wide  flow- 
ing trousers.  On  their  feet  all  wear  a sort  of 
low  sock  made  of  white  or  dark  blue  cotton 
goods,  and  shaped  like  mittens  with  a finger 
for  the  big  toe.  When  the  Japanese  go  out  of 
doors  they  generally  put  on  wooden  shoes, 
which  are  kept  on  by  a thong  that  passes  be- 
tween the  big  toe  and  the  others.  Among 
some  of  the  higher  class  and  at  the  court, 
European  dress  has  been  adopted. 


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24.  How  do  tliey  wear  tlieir  hair? 

Tlie  men  now  wear  their  hair  as  we  do,  hut 
some  of  the  women  still  adhere  to  the  old  elab- 
orate Japanese  fashion,  employing  a hair 
dresser  who  goes  from  house  to  house.  These 
have  their  hair  dressed  only  once  or  twice  a 
week,  and  to  keep  it  in  order  they  sleep  with 
a little  wooden  pillow  about  six  inches  long 
and  two  inches  wide  under  their  necks. 

25.  How  do  the  Japanese  amuse  themselves? 

They  are  very  fond  of  going  on  excursions 
and  picnics,  and  all  Japanese  delight  in  their 
native  music.  A game  called  “Go,”  which  is 
not  unlike  chess,  is  a great  favorite  among 
grown  people.  The  children  have  some  of  the 
games  familiar  to  American  children,  but  the 
great  game  among  them  is  kite-flying.  In  the 
city  of  Tokyo  one  can  sometimes  count  two 
thousand  kites  flying  at  once.  The  Japanese 
kites  are  not  flat  like  ours,  but  bowed,  and  each 
one  has  a couple  of  strings  stretched  across  it  ; 
when  the  wind  blows-  the  strings  hum,  and 
sometimes  the  air  sounds  as  if  it  was  full  of 
giant  bumble  bees. 

26.  What  are  the  principal  industries  of  the 
Japanese? 

The  industries  peculiar  to  Japan  are  silk  and 
tea  culture  and  the  manufacture  of  the  bronze, 


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lacquer  and  porcelain  wares  which  have  hc- 
come  famous  in  Europe  and  America. 

27.  What  of  the  Japanese  language  ? 

In  Japan  there  are  many  different  styles  in 
hoththe  written  and  the  spoken  language,  and 
these  are  so  well  defined  that  to  confuse  them 
either  in  writing  or  talking  is  considered  a mark 
of  great  ignorance  The  forms  to  he  used  in 
addressing  persons  higher  in  rank  are  very  un- 
like those  which  are  used  when  speaking  to 
equals,  and  for  inferiors  still  another  form  is 
considered  necessary. 

28.  What  is  the  religion  of  the  Japanese? 

Shintoism  was  the  early  faith  of  the  country  ; 

Confucianism  also  has  had  many  followers  ; hut 
the  first  of  these  is  a political  principle  rather 
than  a religion,  and  the  second  is  more  strictly 
a system  of  philosophy.  Buddhism  is  the  pre- 
vailing religion  of  Japan. 

29.  What  is  Buddhism  ? 

The  worship  of  Buddha,  taught  hy  a man 
named  Gautama,  who  lived  about  500  years 
before  Christ. 

30.  What  does  Buddhism  teach  ? 

Buddhism  teaches  that  the  world  and  all 

things  in  it  came  into  being  without  a creator  ; 
that  the  soul  at  death  passes  into  the  body  of 
some  new^-born  human  being,  or  some  animal, 
ficcording  to  the  amount  of  merit  made  while 


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living  ; that  it  may  he  thus  born  thousands  of 
times ; that  the  thing  most  to  he  desired  is  to 
make  so  much  merit  that  the  soul  will  at  last  go 
where  Buddha  has  himself  gone,  into  “Nepon,” 
which  is  a kind  of  eternal  sleep. 

31.  Are  there  any  temples  in  Japan? 

There  are  three  sorts  of  temples.  First : The 
Shinto  temples,  very  simple  structures,  with 
little  in  them  excepting  a large  mirror.  Sec- 
ond : The  shrines  erected  in  honor  of  celebrated 
persons.  These  are  the  most  beautiful  build- 
ings in  Japan  ; they  are  highly  ornamented 
with  carving  and  paintings  and  magnificent 
lacquer-work.  Tliird : The  Buddhist  temples, 
which  are  filled  with  idols,  and  where  most  of 
tlie  people  worship. 

33.  What  progress  have  the  Japanese  made 
under  foreign  influence  ? 

They  have  now  men-of-war,  mail  steamers, 
railways,  horse  cars  and  all  the  inventions  that 
mark  the  latest  civilization  ; there  are  telegraph 
lines  running  all  over  the  country,  and  a postal 
system  nearly  or  quite  as  good  as  our  own  ; they 
have  also  newspapers,  a university,  a college  to 
train  engineers,  schools  of  medicine,  law  and 
agriculture  ; an  excellent  common  school  sys- 
tem, also  preparatory  schools,  in  which  are 
taught  the  various  branches  of  study  pursued 
by  boys  and  girls  in  America. 


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MISSIONS. 

33.  How  long  ago  was  Christianity  intro- 
duced into  Japan  ? 

Christianity  was  first  introduced  hy  the  Por- 
tuguese who  sent  the  Jesuits  under  Xavier  in 
1549  ; hut  they  attempted  to  interfere  with  the 
government  and  were  expelled  from  the 
country.  On  account  of  this  the  Japanese 
came  to  hate  and  fear  Christianity,  and  passed 
laws  forbidding  any  one  to  profess  it  on  pain 
of  death. 

34.  When  were  Protestant  missionaries  first 
sent  to  Japan  ? 

Soon  after  Japan  was  open  to  foreigners, 
Protestant  missionaries  were  sent  to  the 
country,  but  on  account  of  the  old  hatred  of 
the  name  of  Christianity  very  little  could  be 
done  for  a number  of  years. 

35.  When  did  the  Presbyterian  Church  begin 
work  in  Japan  ? 

In  1859,  when  Dr.  Hepburn  went  there  as  a 
medical  missionary,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel. 

36.  What  is  the  later  history  of  Presbyterian 
missions  in  Japan  ? 

After  missionaries  had  been  laboring  in  Japan 
for  many  years  from  our  own  Church,  from  the 


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Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  and  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Scotland,  it  was  de- 
cided to  unite  and  form  in  Japan  one  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Within  a few  years  the  Presby- 
terian Church  (Soutli),  the  Reformed  (German) 
Church,  and  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  have  joined  those  above  named,  mak- 
ing six  organizations  in  all,  to  form  the  “ United 
Church  of  Christ  in  Japan,”  a self-governing 
Japanese  Church.  In  1890  the  word  ” United  ” 
was  dropped  from  the  name. 

37.  How  large  is  this  ‘‘  Church  of  Christ  ? ” 

In  1896  there  were  reported  74  churches  with 
a membership  of  11,000. 

38.  Where  are  the  mission  stations  of  our 
own  Presbyterian  Board? 

In  T5k3r5,  the  capital ; in  Yokohama,  a few 
miles  south  of  Tokyo  ; and  the  Hokkaido  Sta- 
tion in  the  northern  island  of  Yezo  ; in  Kana- 
zawa, on  the  west  coast ; Osaka,  a seaport  on 
the  main  island ; Hiroshima,  on  the  Inland 
Sea  ; Kyoto,  near  Osaka  ; Yamaguchi,  on  the 
western  coast,  and  Fukui. 

39.  What  schools  for  boys  and  young  men 
are  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  Board? 

The  Meiji  Gakuiu  at  Tokjm  is  an  important 
institution,  comprising  a preparatory  school, 
college,  and  theological  seminary.  The  course 


15 


of  instruction  is  thorough,  and  to  this  institu- 
tion we  look  for  a native  Christian  ministry, 
well  educated  in  English  branches.  There  is 
also  a boys’  school  at  Kanazawa,  called  Ei  Wa 
Gakko. 

40.  What  schools  for  girls  and  young  women 
are  under  the  care  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  ? 

At  T5kyo  there  is  the  Joshi-Gakn-In  (formed 
by  the  union  of  Graham  Seminary  and  the 
Bancho  School),  in  which  there  are  three  de- 
partments, preparatory,  intermediate  and  ad- 
vanced. There  is  a school  at  Dai  Machi,  T5kyo, 
established  by  a Japanese  Christian  gentleman, 
in  which  our  missionaries  teach,  and  there  are 
schools  carried  on  by  Japanese  at  other  stations 
in  which  our  missionaries  have  the  same  oppor- 
tunity. There  are  also  girls’  schools  under  the 
care  of  our  mission  at  Kanazawa,  Osaka,  and 
Sapporo. 

A Bible  Institute  for  the  training  of  women 
in  Christian  work  is  carried  on  with  great 
promise  in  Tokyo,  and  there  are  day-schools  for 
hoys  and  girls  at  the  different  stations. 

41.  What  literary  work  has  been  done  by 
missionaries  ? 

The  Bible  has  been  fully  translated  and 
largely  circulated  ; a Japanese  and  English  dic- 
tionary has  been  prepared  by  Dr.  Hepburn,  and 
published  ; tracts  and  larger  religious  hooks 


IG 


have  been  written  or  translated  b}"  members  of 
the  mission  ; and  two  religious  papers  are  pub- 
lished, one  partly  in  English,  the  other  entirely 
in  Japanese. 

42.  Are  the  laws  against  Christianity  still  in 
force  ? 

By  the  Constitution  of  1889,  toleration  is 
secured  to  all  religions. 

43.  What  Protestant  Christians  are  working 
there  besides  those  included  in  the  “Church  of 
Christ?  ” 

Baptists,  Congregationalists,  Methodists, 
Friends  and  the  Episcopalians  of  England  and 
America. 

44.  What  is  the  estimated  number  of  Chris- 
tians ? 

About  39,000  (1896). 

45.  Why  does  Japan  especially  need  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ  ? 

The  people  are  rapidly  gaining  all  that  mere 
civilization  can  give  them,  and  they  are  drifting 
away  from  their  old  false  faiths.  The  danger 
is  that  they  will  drift  into  atheism,  and  the 
Church  in  America  should,  with  all  the  earnest- 
ness and  speed  possible,  offer  to  them  the  only 
faith  Which  can  make  their  country  truly  civil- 
ized and  blessed. 


17 


flow  THEY  SAY  IT  IN  JAPAN. 

The  Japanese  use  Chinese  characters  largely 
in  writing  ; besides  these  they  have  letters  of 
their  own,  each  of  which  represents  a syllable. 
In  writing  the  Japanese  with  English  letters 
the  consonants  have  the  same  sound  as  in 
English  ; hut  the  vowels  have  the  Italian  sound, 
and  there  are  no  accents. 

a has  the  . sound  of  a in 


e “ 

“ “ ey  in  prey. 

i “ 

“ “ i in  machine. 

0 “ 

“ “ 0 in  no,  so. 

u “ 

“ “ 00  in  moon. 

ai  “ 

“ “ eye. 

Geo 

graphical  Names. 

Pronunciation. 

Fukui. 

Foo-koo-e. 

Hakodate. 

Ha-ko-dah-ta. 

Hiroshima. 

He-ro-she-mah. 

Kanazawa. 

Kan-ah-zaio-wah. 

Kiushu. 

Kiu-shiu. 

Kobe. 

Ko-ha. 

Kyoto. 

Kee-o-to. 

Nagasaki. 

Nah-gah-sa-kee 

Osaka. 

0-sah-kah. 

18 


Otaru. 

Sapporo. 

Takata. 

Tokyo. 

Toyama. 

Tsnkiji. 

Yamaguclii. 

Yeso  (or  Hokkaido). 
Y okoliama. 


Pronunciation. 

0-tah-TU. 

8ap-po-ro. 

Tak-kah-tuli. 

To-kee-o. 

To-yah-mah. 

Tskee-jee. 

Yah-mah-goo-eJiee. 
Te-so  or  Ilok-kai-do . 
Yo-ko-liah-mali. 


Coins  and  their  Value. 


Yen.  Silver  dollar. 

Sen.  A cent. 

Rin  The  tenth  of  a cent. 

Oo-rin.  A half  cent. 


Gold  and  paper  money  are  also  in  use. 


Weights  and  Measures. 


Kin. 

li  lbs. 

To. 

About  a quarter  of  a bushel. 

Sun. 

One  inch. 

Shaku. 

One  foot. 

Tsubo. 

Six  feet  square. 

A house  is  built  for  a certain  amount  per  tsubo. 


Distances. 

i^^(Ree).  Equals  two  and  one-half  English 
miles. 


19 


Native  Words  Fouad  in  Missionary 
Literature. 

Pronunciation. 


Gho  (Chinese). 

Street. 

Daimio. 

Dai-mee-o. 

Feudal  Lord. 

Daslii. 

Dali-slie. 

Festival  car. 

DosMslia. 

Do-sliee-shali. 

The  Congrega- 
tional College. 

Fuji  yama. 

Poo-jee-yah-mah.  The  highest  mt. 

Futon. 

Foo-ton. 

Quilted  bedspi’ead. 

Gakko. 

School. 

Gaku-in. 

School  or  college. 

Gekkin. 

Organ. 

Geta. 

Ga-tah. 

A clog  or  -wooden 
shoe. 

Hai. 

Hah-ee. 

Yes. 

Haori. 

Hah-o-ree. 

Outer  garment. 

Hibaclii. 

He-hah-chee. 

Firebox,  or  brazier. 

Hirakana. 

He-rah-kah-nah.  Japanese  letters. 

In. 

A hall. 

Itchi  kyo  kwai. 

Union  church. 

Jesu  kyo  or 

Yasu-kyo. 

“Jesus  doctrine,” 
Christianity. 

Jin. 

Man. 

Jinrikiska. 

Jin-reke-shah, 

Two  - wheeled  car- 
riage drawn  by 
men. 

Jizo. 

Je-zo. 

A heathen  god. 

Kago. 

Kah-go. 

Bamboo  basket  sus- 
pended from  a 
pole  and  carried 
by  two  men. 

20 


Kanji. 

Pronunciation. 

Kan-jee. 

Superintendent. 

Kiaro. 

Ke-ar-o. 

Hand  stove  carried 

in  the  sleeve. 

Kimono. 

Ke-ino-no. 

Garment  or  robe. 

Kiristo  Kyokwai.  Ke-risto-keo-kwai.  Church  of 

Ko. 

Christ,  also  Pres- 
byterian church. 
Child. 

Koelio 

Ko-cho. 

Principal  of  a 

Koto. 

school. 

Harp. 

Kurima. 

Ku-ree-ma. 

Public  conveyance. 

Kwaido. 

Church  building. 

Kwan. 

High  official. 

Kwazoku. 

Kwah-zok. 

A nobleman. 

Kyo. 

Kee-o. 

Teaching,  doctrine. 

Machi. 

Street. 

'‘Mata  Kimasu.”  Mah-tah-Ke-mas.  “I  will 

Matsuri. 

Ma-tsoo-re. 

come  again.” 
Religious  festival. 

Mia. 

Me-ah. 

Shinto  temple. 

Mikado. 

Me-kah-do. 

Emperor. 

Moclii. 

Mo-chee. 

Rice  cake. 

Obi. 

Obe. 

Sash  or  girdle. 

Okkasan. 

Ok-kah-san. 

Mamma,  or  mother. 

Okusama. 

Okoo-sah-mah. 

A lady. 

JRiki. 

Power. 

Bojin. 

Aged  person. 

Samisen. 

Sah-mee-sen. 

Common  guitar. 

21 


Sampan. 

San. 


Seii-sa. 


Pronun  ciatiou. 

Boat. 

Mr.,  Mrs.  or  Miss 
(put  after  the 
name). 

Teacher. 

Wheeled  vehicle. 
She-kah-tah-ga-nai.  “ It  is 
inevitable.” 

Shiki.  Kerchief. 

Shimhokwai.  Shim-bok-kwai.  A social  gath- 

erino;. 


Sensei. 

Ska. 

“ Shikataganai.” 


Shimbun. 
Shin  kyo. 

Shogun. 


Shoji. 


Newspaper. 

New  doctrine,  also 
Protestantism. 

Shogoon.  Formerly  the  high- 

est official  of  Ja- 
pan, 

Sho-jee.  Paper  partitions, 

or  sliding  doors. 
Sobetsukuwai.  So-ba-tsu-kwai.  A farewell 

meeting. 
Counting. 
Calisthenics. 

Mats  3x6  ft.  in  size 


Soroban. 

Taiso. 

Tatami.  Tah-tah-me. 


7’ens/i.*Sffw?,ff.Ten-she-sah-mah. 


Ter  a. 
Torii. 


Ta-rah. 

Tore-ee, 


‘Son  of 
heaven.” 
Buddhist  temple. 
Gateway. 


23 


Salutations. 

Pronunciation. 

“ Ohayo.”  0-hai-yo.  “ Good  morning,” 

to  8 or  9 o’clock. 
"Kon  nicliiwdj.”  Kon-ne-clie-wali.  ‘‘This day,” 

from  9 to  sunset. 
“ Konhan.”  ‘‘This  night,”  or 

after  sunset. 

“ Sayonara.”  Sah-yon-ah-rah.  ‘‘Good  night,” 

or  ‘‘Farewell,  if 
it  must  be  so.” 

The  .Japanese  bow  in  meeting  or  parting 
from  each  other,  hut  they  are  learning  to  imi- 
tate foreign  customs  and  shake  hands  with  for- 
eigners. 

St.  .John,  3d  chapter,  16th  verse  (in  English 
letters) ; 

‘‘  Sore  Kami  wa  sono  umitartiaeru  hitorigo  wo 
tamau  hodo  ni  yo  no  hito  wo  aisMtamaeri,  ko  wa 
subete  knre  wo  sliimzuru  mono  ni  horoburn  koto 
naku  shite  kagirinaki  inochi  wo  ukeshimen  ga 
tame  nari." 


KOREA 


1.  Where  is  Korea  ? 

Korea  is  a peninsula  of  Asia,  west  of  Japan, 
and  Ij'ing  between  the  Yellow  Sea  and  the  Sea 
of  Japau. 

2.  Describe  the  country. 

A chain  of  mountains  extends  through  its 
whole  length.  Three  provinces  lie  east  of  the 
mountains,  and  five  west.  The  western  side  is 
more  fertile  and  attractive  than  the  eastern, 
and  is  watered  by  more  rivers. 

8.  What  is  the  area  of  the  country  ? 

Korea  is  as  large  as  the  combined  areas  of 
Maine,  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire,  Ver- 
mont, Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  together 
with  New  Jersey  and  Maryland. 

4.  What  is  the  population  ? 

It  is  estimated  at  about  13,000,000. 

5.  What  is  the  climate  ? 

The  winters  of  the  north  are  very  severe  ; 
further  south  we  find  all  the  varieties  that  are 
met  with  between  New  England  and  Virginia. 

6.  What  are  the  products  of  the  land  ? 

Corn,  millet,  wheat,  rye,  rice,  barley  and 


24 


beaus,  upon  which  the  people  depend  for  food  ; 
hemp,  cotton,  tobacco  and  ginger  ; the  pine, 
palm  and  a variety  of  fruits  of  fine  quality. 
The  mulberry  and  scrub-oak  are  cultivated  as 
food  for  silk  worms. 

7.  Tell  something  of  the  history  of  Korea. 

The  ancestors  of  the  modern  Koreans  were 

from  Manchuria,  and  after  wresting  tlve  penin- 
sula from  the  Chinese  held  it  for  several  cen- 
turies. About  the  tenth  century  the  thirty -two 
monarchies  of  the  countiy  were  united  in  one 
dynasty,  under  the  government  of  Wang.  In 
the  fourteenth  century  this  line  was  overthrown 
by  Ni  Taijo,  who  was  made  king.  The  same 
dynasty  still  continues,  though  not  in  the  di- 
rect line  of  descent. 

8.  What  is  the  condition  of  the  people? 

There  is  little  education,  though  some  schools 

are  maintained  by  the  government.  Most  of 
the  people  are  very  poor,  and  many  of  their 
houses  are  of  mud,  thatched  with  straw.  The 
rich  dress  in  silk  and  the  poor  in  cotton.  They 
have  manj^  holidays  and  public  merry-makings. 
Women  are  considered  as  inferior,  but  are  not 
treated  with  such  harshness  as  in  some  coun- 
tries. 

9.  AVhat  is  the  religion  of  Korea? 

In  the  early  ages  the  religion  consisted  in  a 
superstitious  devil-worship.  Buddhism  was  in- 


25 


troduced  in  the  fourth  century,  and  Confucian- 
ism later.  Taoism  also  exists  in  Korea,  hut 
without  much  influence.  Ancestral  worship  is 
an  interesting  feature  of  Korean  religion.  Tab- 
lets are  erected  with  the  names  and  virtues  of 
ancestors,  and  sometimes  handsome  temples 
are  built  to  their  memory.  Food  is  offered  to 
the  departed  spirit,  and  prayers  and  wailings 
are  part  of  the  worship. 

10.  What  is  the  state  of  religion  among  the 
people  to-day  ? 

Buddhism  has  lost  much  of  its  control  over 
the  people  ; Confucianism  is  not  much  more 
than  a system  of  morals  ; and  their  superstitious 
devil-worship,  or  the  “ natural  religion,”  that 
finds  a god  in  everything,  has  no  longer  much 
sway  over  the  people  ; so  that  the  whole  nation 
may  almost  be  said  to  have  no  religion. 

11.  What  does  this  show  ? 

It  shows  that  God,  bj^  breaking  dowur  the 
superstitions  of  the  people,  is  preparing  the 
way  for  the  Gospel. 

12.  What  was  the  first  missionary  work  in 
Korea  ? 

Roman  Catholic  missionaries  entered  the 
country  at  several  times  and  gained  many  con- 
verts. The  suspicions  of  the  government  and 
the  native  priesthood  were  aroused  in  each 
case,  and  the  missionaries  were  driven  away. 


26 


while  their  followers  were  obliged  to  flee,  to 
recant,  or  to  suffer  horrible  tortures. 

13.  When  was  the  first  treaty  made  with 
foreign  governments ? 

After  unsuccessful  efforts  of  both  France  and 
America,  .lapan  succeeded  in  making  a treaty 
with  Korea  in  1876,  and,  six  years  later,  a satis- 
factory treaty  was  made  with  America. 

14.  Who  was  one  of  the  first  Protestant  con- 
verts among  the  Koreans  ? 

Rijutei,  a Korean,  was  sent  to  represent  his 
government  in  Japan.  Soon  after  reaching 
the  country  some  Cliristian  books  fell  into  his 
hands.  lie  read  them  with  eager  interest  and 
was  introduced  to  one  of  the  American  mis- 
sionaries, from  whom  he  received  instruction. 
He  accepted  Christianity  and  was  baptized. 

15.  What  was  the  result  of  Rijutei’s  conver- 
sion ? 

lie  immediately  began  to  prepare  a Bible 
which  his  countrymen  could  read,  by  introduc- 
ing certain  marks  among  the  Chinese  charac- 
ters. He  begged  that  missionaries  might  be 
sent  to  Korea,  and  Dr.  H.  N.  Allen,  then  liv- 
ing in  China,  went  in  1884. 

16.  How  was  Dr.  Allen  received  ? 

The  American  Minister  appointed  him  phvsi- 
cian  to  the  legation,  which  insured  his  safety. 


27 


Soon  after  his  arrival  a number  of  Koreans 
were  wounded  in  a political  outbreak,  among 
them  a nephew  of  the  king.  He  and  several 
others  recovered  from  their  wounds  under  Dr. 
Allen’s  care,  and  his  skill  gained  him  the  favor 
of  the  king  and  his  court. 

17.  What  has  been  the  most  promineirt  form 
of  missionary  work  in  Korea  ? 

The  medical  work.  The  Government  hos- 
pital at  Seoul,  the  capital,  is  under  the  care  of 
one  of  the  missionaries,  and  a woman  medical 
missionary  has  large  opportunity  for  work 
among  women.  There  is  also  a dispensary  at 
Fusan. 

18.  What  success  has  attended  evangelistic 
work  in  Korea  ? 

The  success  with  which  God  has  blessed 
evangelistic  work  in  Korea  is  wonderful,  and 
the  progress  has  been  greater  than  in  any  other 
country  since  apostolic  times. 

19.  What  facts  show  that  this  is  so  ? 

Dr.  Allen  reached  Korea  in  the  fall  of  1884, 
and  the  first  ordained  missionary  in  the  spring 
of  1885  ; the  first  convert  was  baptized  in  July, 
1886  ; the  first  church  organized  (Presbyterian) 
in  the  fall  of  1887,  and  before  the  close  of  1888, 
the  baptized  converts  of  the  two  missions,  Meth- 
odist and  Presbyterian,  numbered  over  100. 


38 


30.  Wliat  is  the  condition  of  the  work  now  ? 

The  Presbyterian  churcli  has  now  nearly 

300  communicants  beside  a number  under  pro- 
bation and  there  are  little  companies  of  Chris- 
tians and  inquirers  in  many  towns  and  through 
the  country  regions, 

31.  In  what  way  has  this  work  been  carried 
on  ? 

Periodical  trips  have  been  taken  through  the 
country  for  the  sale  and  distribution  of  books, 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and  baptism  of 
converts.  Sub-stations  have  been  established, 
colporteurs  have  been  employed  to  visit  regu- 
larly certain  districts  ; and  a theological  class 
has  been  carried  on  for  some  years.  Boys’  and 
girls’  schools  have  also  been  established. 

33.  How  is  the  work  carried  on  among  the 
women  ? 

They  are  visited  in  their  homes,  and  among 
the  middle-class  women  a very  good  work  has 
been  begun.  Services  for  women  are  carried 
on  by  the  women  members  of  the  mission,  and 
on  Sunday  these  meetings  have  become  so 
large  that  three  successive  meetings  have  to  be 
held.  During  the  week  also  various  classes 
for  women  are  held  both  in  native  homes  and 
at  the  missionaries’  houses. 

23.  What  stations  are  occupied  by  our  mis- 
sionaries ? 


29 


Seoul,  the  capital,  near  the  western  coast  ; 
Fusan,  on  the  southeast  coast ; Gensan,  on  the 
northeast  coast,  and  Pyeng  Yang,  in  the  north- 
west. 

24.  What  other  Protestant  churches  are  work- 
ing here  ? 

American  Methodists,  Southern  and  Aus- 
tralian Presbyterians  and  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. 

25.  Is  the  outlook  hopeful  ? 

The  government  has  recognized  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  medical  work,  and  is  favorable  to 
the  missionaries.  After  the  confusion  incident 
to  the  Chinese  and  Japanese  war,  which  re- 
sulted in  a partial  protectorate  of  Japan  over 
Korea,  has  quieted,  wide  doors  will  he  open  for 
missionary  work  and  influence. 

HOW  THEY  SAY  IT  IN  KOREA. 

The  language  of  Korea  is  similar  in  construc- 
tion to  the  Japanese.  Many  of  the  words  have 
been  imported  from  China,  hut  neither  Japan- 
ese nor  Chinese  is  understood  when  spoken, 
although  Chinese  is  read  by  all  scholars.  With 
the  exception  of  a few  slight  differences  in 
dialect,  the  language  of  Seoul  can  he  under- 
stood all  over  the  kingdom.  The  written  char- 
acters are  read  from  the  top  down,  and  from 
right  to  left. 


30 


Geographical  Names. 


Pyeng  Yang. 


Eui  Ju. 
Pusan. 
Gensan. 
Korea. 


Chemulpo. 


Pronunciation. 
Ghee-mul-'po. 
We-Jew. 
Foo-san. 
Ghen-snn. 
Ko-ree-ali. 
Peng  Yang. 


^ Seoul  (or  Kyung-gi-do.)  So-oul. 

Coins  and  their  Value, 

Cash— a,  small  copper  coin  is  the  only  money. 
Large  numbers  of  these  are  carried  by  a cord 
passed  through  a hole  in  the  centre. 

1 pvri  is  5 cash. 

400  cas7i  are  equal  to  a silver  dollar. 


Weights, 


Korean  weights  are  the  same  as  Chinese. 

A Keun  or  Catty  is  equal  to  Ij  pounds. 

A Nyaiuj  or  Onnus  is  equal  to  of  a keun. 
A Ton  is  equal  to  of  a nyang  or  onnus. 


Measures. 


The  measures  used  in  the  city  difl'er  from 
those  used  in  the  country.  Land  is  measured 
by  the  quantity  of  grain  used  to  sow  it,  or  the 
time  taken  to  plough  it. 

Grain  is  measured  by  so  many  henp  or  hand- 
fuls to  make  a sym  or  bag. 


31 


Distances. 

CM — equals  one  inch. 

C'/iu— equals  one  foot. 

A Li  is  really  measured  by  time— 10  U means 
an  hour’s  travel  bj^  coolies  on  the  plains ; the 
distance  is  less  on  the  mountains  because  the 
coolies  travel  more  slowly. 


Native  Words  Found  in  Missionary 
Literature. 


Ahagie. 

Father. 

Ahmounie. 

Mother. 

An-paiig. 

Women’s  apartments. 

Chinas. 

Outside  silk  garment. 

Chogories. 

A little  jacket  or  waist. 

Ilapmun  or  Ingum. 

King. 

Karnsah. 

High  official,  governor. 

Kilchimg. 

Guest  house. 

Mee  Kook  sarum. 

Americans.  ’ 

Pang  8uk. 

Custom. 

Qungas. 

Government  examinations. 

San. 

Mountain. 

Sarang  pang. 

General  reception  room. 

Tai. 

Great. 

Tai  In, 

Great  man,  foreigner. 

Wae  Yamen. 

Foreign  office. 

Yang  han. 

Gentleman. 

Yangeen. 

European. 

Yoe. 

Guilt. 

Yong  num. 

Official  residence. 

Ytm. 

Kite. 

aa 


St.  John,  3d  chap.,  16th 
characters)  : 


H 

o| 

d? 

HI 

■p" 


■=1- 

o 


o 


•d; 

9 


ve?’S6  (in  Korean 


ol- 

4- 

a 

o| 

^il 

O. 

Ah 

1 

6 

zi 

of. 


QUESTION  booh  series 


AFRICA. 

CHINA. 

CHINESE  IN  AMERICA. 
INDIA. 

JAPAN  AND  KOREA. 
MEXICO. 

PERSIA. 

SIAM  AND  LAOS. 
SOUTH  AMERICA. 
SYRIA. 


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